No dept, no govt will ever admit that they were spying: Haryana’s Health Minister Anil Vij

Rather, I myself spotted him standing outside my office many times. On that day, my staff members informed me that the same man was standing outside the office again. I went out and brought him inside my office and asked him about his identity. When I asked him, he told me he was Sub Inspector Surinder from CID. I got furious. I immediately picked up my phone and spoke with ADGP/ CID and asked him to come to my office immediately. I told ADGP Shatrujeet Kapoor that I wanted to hand over a man from CID wing who had been keeping a watch on me for long. ADGP told me that he could not come personally since he was out of station. He said he would send somebody to my office. A few minutes later, DGP Y P Singal and IGP/CID Sandeep Khirwar came to my office. They spoke to me privately in this room (office) and spoke to S-I Surinder as well. He gave some frivolous reasons for being present outside my office. They told me they will enquire about it and submit the report by Monday. Today is Tuesday (July 28), but I have not got any report yet. The inquiry officer had summoned my personal staff for their versions. On Monday, they had again summoned my staff for questioning, but I asked my staff not to go there. If the police wants to conduct an inquiry, they should do it or else they should drop it. But my staff should not be harassed again and again.

Do you have hope of a fair inquiry?

No department, no government will ever admit that they were spying. This is very clear. So, what story they build, that is to be known. I am only curious to know what stereotype story they are cooking. But they will never admit that they were spying. I know it very well. That is why I am not waiting for the report.

There had been several instances in the past, officers in your department were transferred without your knowledge, appointment of brand ambassador for Beti Bachao campaign, transfers of doctors etc. in which you were not kept in the loop or you were not informed by the government about its decisions. How do you take it?

Yes, that’s right.  I was not kept in the loop. I said it, but at the same time I clarified that I was not annoyed with anybody (even though) you (may) conclude that since I was not consulted, I would be against somebody or somebody would be against me.  Even in this Parineeti [Chopra] matter, when media asked me, I simply said that my department had never made any proposal for appointing a brand ambassador.  When media told me that they have the official press release and THE CM made the appointment, then I said that CM might have done it. In  Indian parliamentary democracy, CM is like a king. He can do anything. If he wishes, he can discuss with his colleagues, if he doesn’t want he doesn’t disclose. But that doesn’t mean that I have some differences with my CM. I have never said so. I am only speaking the truth that this proposal has not gone through my department. And we have never discussed and we never even felt the need for having a brand ambassador for Haryana, because already Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appointed a brand ambassador for the whole country. So question doesn’t arise of having one for Haryana.

The allegations against the previous government  was that it hounded officers like Ashok Khemka, Sanjeev Chaturvedi and Pradip Kasni. You had been advocating for these officers while in opposition. Now you have come to power, why didn’t you take these officers in your department?

Not once, rather I have advocated many times for them. But naturally it is the CM who has the final word. I have always asked for these officers. I offered to CM if he feels they were welcome to my department. Incidentally, Mr Kasni has come in a department headed by me.

There had been past instances, where CM had been negating your decisions or recommendations. Is there a disconnect between you and the CM?

I take decisions as per my wisdom, but every decision has to go through the Chief Minister’s Office. Sometimes, they feel that decision has not been taken rightly and they try to modify my decisions. They can do it. I have never felt humiliated, because CM has the power to change any of my decisions.

You just said that each decision goes through the CMO. In the present government setup in Haryana, who do you think is supreme? Is it the CM or CMO?

I may not like to answer this question (laughs). You know it well. I would not wish to reply this.

Did you speak to the Chief Minister on this spying incident?

Yes, I had a talk with him and I have conveyed everything to him. He told me he will talk to his officers as to what was happening. It’s up to him now. But he told me that he will enquire from his officers.

In these eight months of being the Health Minister, what scams have you have come across in your department?

NRHM scandal is the biggest so far. The previous government ate all the medicines by themselves. It is a scandal worth hundreds of crores.

Vigilance is probing it and very soon the findings will be in front of everybody. We are not going to spare anybody found guilty.